Living Green: Be a part of No Straw November

Less plastic trash is the goal of several recent initiatives around Monterey Bay, and cities are getting on board with reducing the number of plastic straws as well as other waste associated with takeout food.

• You, too, can be part of the “No Straw November” movement. Started by San Juan Bautista high school junior Shelby O’Neil, it’s meant to bring awareness to the problem of plastic straws and to challenge people to refuse this type of straw this month, and hopefully beyond.

More than 500 million plastic straws are used each day in the United States alone, according to the Plastic Pollution Coalition, and these one-use-only items join a vast swath of plastic already in the environment that causes injury to ocean wildlife.

The city of Monterey and the California Coastal Commission both passed resolutions in support of O’Neil’s work, but it can’t succeed without everyone joining in.

This month (and beyond), when you go out to a restaurant or bar, simply say, “No straw, please.” If you do need a straw, carry your own reusable straw with you.

You can also encourage dining establishments to change their ways. Ask them to serve plastic straws only on request, and for them to consider switching to paper or bamboo straws.

There’s even a handy informational card that you can download and leave with your bill (you can find a link to it at www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org by searching for No Straw November), as well as a sign that businesses can print out to display, letting all their customers know that they will only give out straws on request.

There are other steps you can take as well. You can support O’Neil and her Jr Ocean Guardians organization, and visit the website for more information, at www.jroceanguardians.org. You can keep track of how many straws you refuse, and also share the challenge on social media this month using the hashtag #NoStrawNovember.

If you haven’t already seen the new documentary “Straws,” there’s another chance coming up on Nov. 14 at Monterey Public Library. The event from 5:30-7 p.m. includes a panel discussion with representatives from the Jr Ocean Guardians as well as Monterey Regional Waste Management District, The Last Plastic Straw, Sustainable Monterey and other organizations.

• The city of Santa Cruz has changed its laws on takeout food packaging, another important step forward in reducing waste. The revised ordinance went into effect earlier this month, and requires food service businesses to change their to-go items to packaging and accessories that are biodegradable, compostable or recyclable in the city’s recycling program.

Straws, for instance, must be made of a compostable material like paper or bamboo. Plastic stir sticks are not allowed, but wood sticks are okay. And straws, lids, cutlery and condiment packages may only be provided to customers on request.

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The ordinance also expands the definition of polystyrene, banning a newer type called “oriented polystyrene,” a stiffer, thinner type of this plastic that is used for clamshell takeout containers. More information on the revisions can be found at cityofsantacruz.com/polystyrene.

Every step we take toward reducing plastic waste is important, no matter how small it is, and these efforts are all important in creating the kind of world we want to live in.

Do you have questions or tips about sustainable living around the Central Coast? Send them to Kathryn McKenzie at kathymckenziewriter@gmail.com. Follow Kathryn McKenzie at www.facebook.com/kathrynmckenziewriter.

About the Author

Kathryn McKenzie writes about sustainable living for the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Listen to Kathryn on “Homegirl,” on KRML, around 10:15 a.m. weekdays (102.1 FM, 1410 AM or krml.com). Reach the author at pardonmygarden@att.net
or follow Kathryn on Twitter: @livinggreen2.